The Help struck gold at Friday's NAACP Image Awards. The drama won big in three major categories: Best actress (Viola Davis), supporting actress (Octavia Spencer) and best motion picture.

Another big winner was George Lucas, who was honored with the Vanguard Award for his career achievements including this year's Red Tails. The award was represented by Star Wars alum Samuel L. Jackson and Red Tails co-stars Terrence Howard and Cuba Gooding, Jr.

Screen legends Sidney Poitier and Harry Belafonte made a joint appearance to present the President's Award to the Black Stuntmen's Association. Established in 1967, the group fought to level the playing field for African-American stuntmen during a time of extreme prejudice.

In light of Whitney Houston's recent death, fellow songstress Yolanda Adams sang the gospel tune, "I Love the Lord, He Heard My Cry" as part of a stirring tribute to the late star.

The ceremony was filled with ups, downs, surprises and, of course, awards.

Here's the full list of winners:

Motion pictures:

• Motion picture: The Help
• Actor in a motion picture: Laz Alonso, Jumping the Broom
• Actress in a motion picture: Viola Davis, The Help
• Supporting actor in a motion picture: Mike Epps, Jumping the Broom
• Supporting actress in a motion picture: Octavia Spencer, The Help
• Independent motion picture: Pariah
• Foreign motion picture: In the Land of Blood and Honey
• Documentary, theatrical or television: Sing Your Song

Television:

• Comedy series: Tyler Perry's House of Payne
• Actor in a comedy series: Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Reed Between the Lines
• Actress in a comedy series: Tracee Ellis Ross, Reed Between the Lines
• Supporting actor in a comedy series: Nick Cannon, Up All Night
• Supporting actress in a comedy series: Keshia Knight Pulliam, Tyler Perry's House of Payne
• Drama series: Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
• Actor in a drama series: LL Cool J, NCIS: Los Angeles
• Actress in a drama series: Regina King, Southland
• Supporting actor in a drama series: James Pickens, Jr., Grey's Anatomy
• Supporting actress in a drama series: Archie Panjabi, The Good Wife
• TV movie, mini-series or dramatic special: Thurgood
• Actor in a TV movie, mini-series or dramatic special: Laurence Fishburne, Thurgood
• Actress in a TV movie, mini-series or dramatic special: Taraji P. Henson, Taken From Me: The Tiffany Rubin Story
• Actor in a daytime drama series: Emerson Brooks, All My Children
• Actress in a daytime drama series: Tatyana Ali, The Young and the Restless
• News/information, series or special: Unsung
• Talk series: Oprah's Lifeclass
• Reality series: Dancing with the Stars
• Variety series or special: Oprah Presents: Master Class
• Children's program: I Can Be President: A Kid's-Eye View
• Performance in a children's program, series or special: Keke Palmer, True Jackson, VP

Writing:

• Comedy series: Salim Akil, Mara Brock Akil, The Game
• Dramatic series: Lolis Eric Elie, Treme
• Motion picture: Ann Peacock, The First Grader

Directing:

• Comedy series: Leonard R. Garner, Jr., Rules of Engagement
• Dramatic series: Ernest Dickerson, Treme
• Motion picture: Salim Akil, Jumping the Broom

Recording:

• New artist: Diggy Simmons
• Male artist: Cee Lo Green
• Female artist: Jill Scott
• Duo, group or collaboration: Mary J. Blige feat. Drake
• Jazz album: George Benson, Guitar Man
• Gospel album, traditional or contemporary: Kirk Franklin, Hello Fear
• World music album: Sounds of Blackness, Sounds of Blackness
• Music video: Jennifer Hudson, "Where You At"
• Song: Kirk Franklin, "I Smile"
• Album: Jennifer Hudson, I Remember Me

Literature:

• Fiction: Reshonda Tate Billingsley, Say Amen, Again
• Nonfiction: Hill Harper, The Wealth Cure: Putting Money in Its Place
• Debut author: Lyah Le Flore, The Strawberry Letter
• Biography/autobiography: Harry Belafonte, My Song
• Instructional: T.D. Jakes, The T.D. Jakes Relationship Bible: Life Lessons on Relationships from the Inspired Word of God
• Poetry: James Golden, Afro Clouds & Nappy Rain: The Curtis Brown Poems
• Children: Tony Dungy (author), Ron Mazellan (illustrator), You Can Be a Friend
• Youth/teens: Jeff Burlingame, Jesse Owens: I Always Loved Running

Photo credit: Nikki Nelson/ PNP/ WENN